Mechanical toy



Sept. l5, 1925. 1,553,810

'A. GIBBNEY MECHANICAL TOY Filed oct. 2o, 1920 s sheets-sneer 1 44 A 75 Y /Wy /W I X1 D Patented sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED sIAIEs' '1,553,810 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT GIBBNEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoR F CNE-HALF To JOSEPH A.

- KASPAR, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MECHANICAL TOY Application led October 20, 1920. Serial No. 418,215.

To all whom t may cof/wem:

Beit known that I, ALBERT GIBBNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanical toys, and has particular reference to demountable toys composed of parts which may be assembled to constitute miniature models of various structures; for in stance, bridges, cranes, Ferris wheels, etc.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction so organized that the parts may be assembledA into the various structures desired with a minimum of fittingk or involved manipulations; to provide a construction which, when assembled, shall be ri id and substantial in character; to provi e a construction which, at will, may be taken apart and packed away into small compass; to provide a construction ofthe class described which may be manufactured quickly and economically with a comparatively small outfit of special dies or appliances; to rovide a construction in which substantialy all of the parts are self-coutained and inter-lock, one with the other, without the necessity of employing a multiplicity of pins, bolts, or screws; and, in general, to providean improved mechanical toy construction of the character referred" to.

In order to illustrate a specific application of my invention, I have selected as an eX- ample, a miniature aerostat constructed .ofr

my improved parts, said aerostat being depicted in the accompanying drawings. In said drawings- Fig. 1 is an elevation of the aerostat shown in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a plan tower; y

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of 'the cars suspended from the spinner;

Fig. 4 isa plan view of the spinner-hub; Fig. 5 is an elevation of the spinner-hub shown in Fig.V 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a shaft bearing with its mounting; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8.-.. 8

Y 5. .i .U i. .0f 1? view of the top. of the Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9*-9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one of the channel bars; y

d Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the channel bar shown in Fig. 10; y

VFig. 12 is a plan view showing bar union or connector sleeve;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is anenlargement of one of the suspension hinges; and Fig. 15 is a perspective of one of the tower corner connections. Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that throughout the structure the main members comprise straight, tubular, or channelshaped bars of U-shape in cross-section, as indicated in Fig. 11. These bars may vbe formed of any length, but in practice I prefer to make them a definite number of inches in length, a complete toy outfit containing so many pieces three inches in length, so many pieces four inches, so many pieces live. inches, etc.

In order to connect the ends of the U-bars with other parts, I employ sleeves or sockets which may be of various forms, depending upon the number and relation of the U-bars, located at the juncture. For instance, if I desire merely to connect together the ends of two alined U-bars, I employ a socket, such as shown in Fig. 12. This comprises a basepla'te 20, the side edges of which, as shown at 21, are curled over the projecting side anges 22 formed at the base of the U-shaped sleeve 23, said sleeve being of suitable dimensions to receive the end ofthe U-bar 24. It will be understood that the parts 20 and 23 are formed into an integral structure, so that there is no relative movement of the two portions of said part. In order to prevent accidental withdrawal of the ends of the U-bar 24 from the connecting sleeve a channel or socket, I prefer to extend the base-plate 20 at each end beyond the open end of the 100 sleeve, the said extensions 25 being formed with raised, impressed ridge-like formations 26 which engage in notches 27 adjacent the ends of the U-bar. It will be understood that the space between the ridge 26 and the center 195 a snap effect whenthe end of the U--bar is pushed into the socket.

This fundamental connecting principle is employed throughout the entire struct-ure, as will be readily apparent upon directing attention to the aerostat shown in the drawings. In said aerostat device it will be obs served that there is a stationary tower of conventional truncated pyramida-l sha-pe upon willich the spinner is mounted. Said tower is four-'sided and constructed of U- bars, such as are shown in Figs. 10- and 11, there being in the presen-t instance four stories of equal height, terminating in'what may be called decks or skeleton frames.y If desired, thebottorm of the tower may be supported on short legs 28 which are connected tol the horizontal-frame parts 29 and 30 and the leg extensions 31 yby means of sockets, such as shown at 32. Said corner connection 32, like the straightconnection shown in Fig. 12, is constructed with a back plate 33 and a socket orsleeve plate 34 formed with raised U-shaped portions forming sockets or sleeves 'to receive the ends of the U portions to be connected.

the back plate of this corner connection, as well as all the other parts which connect with the ends of the U-bars, "has an extenat a slight angle from the vertical in order to give the'` pyramidal effect to the tower. As will be seen from the. dra-wings, the vback plate and the socket platey are rigidly united togetherby foldingthe corners of thel back plate over the corners of the, socket plate, thereby rigidly uniting the two parts of the connector together.

The top deck of the tower is suitably con-- structed to enable itto support a bearing or guide for the vertical shaft 35 which operates the spinner. Said top deck comprises the usual four horizontal frame members 36 and, in additionthereto,a set of four intermediate bars 37 which are connected to the outer frame membersy 36 by means of T- shaped sockets 38.v y

As shown` in*` the drawings, the `said T- shaped sockets 38. are slidably mounted on the members 36, which extend allV the way through the outer continuous sockel-,portion 39 of said part 38. Theintermediate sections 37' are, at their outer endsf, supported in the socketsv 46 of said members 38'." The inner ends said intermediatebars 37 'are inserted the cruel-'form socket 4r which As nin the' case of the 'straight sleeve shown in Fig. 12,;

has four openings in which to receive the inner ends of said bars 37. In order to provide a bearing for the vertical shaft 35, I prefer to equip the said crucifform socket 41 with a.` bushing or bearing 42 inserted in the member 41 through a central perforationand secured therein by beading over the edge of the neck or shoulder portion 43 of said bushing, as shown in Fig. 9.

The upper end of said shaft 35 carries a. spinner, shownbest in Figs. 4 and' 5, saidl spinner being formed-in somewhat the same manner as the member 41, excepting that I prefer to secure the base and top parts thereof together by means oftongues T1-on one' of the parts engaged through vapertures 72 of the other part and located between tjhe sockets, and I also use a flange 73 and rib 74 extending entirely around the'y spinner. The spinner has a large number of sock-ets, as for example 10, as illustrated, in order to receive the ten spokes or spinner' arms The 'spinner-hub is equipped with a collar' or hub proper drilled to receive the upper end ofsaid sha-ft 35 and provided with a set screw 46 so that thehub of the spinner can be securely clamped to the upper end of said shaft. The outer end of each of the spokes 44 is slipped into the horizontal half of a hinge 'socket designated as a whole 47,v

the other half 48 of said hinge socket swing' ing on the hinge 49 so that it may assume 'a position other than vertical. 'Ihei said socket portion 48 serves as a connection for the .suspension bar 50 which may,.if desired, be made in two lengths joined together by a splicing connection 51,..sirnilar to that shown in Figs. 12l and 13. In order to permit` a cordv to be readily attached to the hinge socket 47, the hinge may be formed with a loop 7 5 positioned between the two sections, as .shown in Fig. 1 4. The lower-end of the suspension bar is connected by means of a T-shaped socket. 52 to a bail-bar 53, the ends of which are united by means of: corner Sockets' 54 to short vertical U"bars 55. r1`he lower ends of the bars 55 are suitably se cured. in sockets 56 at 'the ends of the aerostat car 57, which may be made of any d'e sired shape, and preferably of sheet metal to reducey weight.` n

In order to eect rotation` of vthe' shaft 35, the same is extended substantially to the ground level where, by means of a pair of bevel gears 58 and 59, it may bel operated by a horizontal shaft 60.; rIhe lower,` end of said'shaft 35 adjacent the bevel gearsv is supported in a bearing 61 which is itself supported on a cross-bar 62. The connection between the cross-bar and the bearing 61 is made by means of a unitary stamping 63, one end of which is looped or fdlded to forma socket for receiving the U-shaped cross-bafr 62, while 'theP ends of saidstanrping are superposed and perforated 'refaQ ceive the reduced lower end 64 of t-he bearing 61, said reduced lower end 64 being suitably riveted over to hold the parts together. In order to locate the bearmg positively in its proper position, I employ a screw 65 threaded into the lower half 66 of the socket and impinging against the interior surface of the U-bar. A set screw 7 6 may also be supplied in the hub or bearing 61 to be used in cases wherein it is desired to hold a shaft, supported thereby, from rotation. Y

The bar 62 is supported by the horizontal frame members 29, being connected thereto by T-shaped sockets, as shown at 67. Similar bearing supports may be used for the horizontal shaft 60, which at its outer end may be equipped with a drive pulley 68. In the case of the bearing 69 it will be observed that by reason of the axis of the shaft being horizontal, it is necessary to dispose the socket in such manner that the curved portion of the U will project away from the axis of the bearing instead of along its axis, as in the case of the bearing at 6l. The same remarks apply in the case of the bearing 70.

As the shaft 35 is of considerable length, it may in some cases be found advantageous to employ an intermediate supporting bearing 71 which is carried on an intermediate cross-bar 72, similar to the cross-bar 62.

It will be understood that my invention may be employed in connection with numerous styles of miniature models or mechanical toys in addition to the particular application herein disclosed. Hence, the scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the appended claims, such claims being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In toy construction, the combination of a bar of U-shaped cross-section and a socket comprising a plate engaging the ends of the limbs of the U, and a socket portion fitting the outer surface of the U, said plate and socket portion being united together, a projecting portion being provided on the plate and the barbeing notched adjacent the end to engage said projection.

2. In toy construction, the combination of a shaft, a bearing for said shaft, a U- shaped bar for supporting said bearing, and a connector between said bearing and said U-shaped bar comprising a sheet metal member folded to include said bar and having its ends united together by said bearing.

3. In toy construction, the combination of ya shaft, a bearing for said shaft, a U-shaped bar for supporting said bearing', a connector between said bearing and said U-shaped bar comprising a sheet metal member folded to include said bar and having its ends united together by said bearing, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of said connector along said bar.

4. In toytconstruction, the combination of a bar of Ushaped cross-section so as to afford a pair of spaced side flanges, notches in the edges of the side yiianges adjacent the end of the bar, a socket comprising an arched portion with a at base to receive the end of the bar, and a tongue at the outer end of the socket having a transverse ridge for engaging the notches of the bar to hold the lattery in the socket.

5. In toy construction, the combination of an elongated U-shaped bar having notches in the edges of the side flanges adjacent kthe end of the bar, a connector comprising a socket, the latter consisting of an arched plate having the lateral edges thereof secured to a flat base plate, and a lip integral with the fiat plate and extending beyond the end of the socket," and having a transverse ridge for resiliently engaging the notches of the bar for holding the latter in the socket.

ALBERT GIBBNEY. 

